Unfortunately the New Zealand Census returns were not kept. However there are other resources available for this time period such as Wises Postal Directories, Electoral Rolls, Cemetery records, School rolls, Return of the Freeholders, Sheep Returns and the like. The percentages are my addition. From the AJHR Vol II 1881 Part 2.

PROVINCE

PERSONS

MALES

PERCENTAGE

FEMALES

PERCENTAGE

Auckland

99216

54020

54%

45196

46%

Taranaki

14852

8528

57%

6324

43%

Wellington

61354

32764

53%

28590

47%

Hawke's Bay

17354

9692

56%

7662

44%

Marlborough

9304

5257

56%

4047

44%

Nelson

26297

14935

57%

11362

43%

Westland

14782

8966

61%

5816

39%

Canterbury

112115

60579

54%

51536

46%

Otago

134186

74549

56%

59637

44%

Chatham Islands

242

162

67%

80

33%

Total European Population

489702

269452

55%

220250

45%

Maori

44099

24370

55%

19729

45%

TOTAL POPULATION

533801

293822

55%

239979

45%

Note (from the AJHR) :- The populations of the counties and boroughs if added together will not make up the total population of the colony. The persons on shipboard, and the population of certain islands which do not belong to counties or boroughs, represent the difference.

Table Showing the Population (exclusive of Maoris) of the Different Counties and Boroughs in the Colony of New Zealand as on the 3rd April 1881.